OSCE Chairman regrets end of OSCE mandate in Chechnya

THE HAGUE, 3 January 2003 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, today expressed regret that agreement could not be reached on extending the mandate of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya. This is because of Russian proposals involving serious changes to the mandate of the mission. As a result of the lack of agreement, the OSCE mission has been closed since the beginning of this year.

"It is important for the OSCE to have a presence in Chechnya, with a broad mandate," the CiO said. He intends to discuss this and other matters shortly with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

"In recent years, the OSCE mission in Chechnya has done useful work, often under difficult conditions," the new CiO added. "If the OSCE can continue its work in Chechnya in a way that is acceptable to all parties, this can contribute to reducing instability, insecurity and lawlessness."

The mandate of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya expired on 31 December as the OSCE's 55 participating States were unable to agree on extending it. As a result, the mission has ceased its activities and must be closed by 21 March 2003.

The Netherlands took over the one-year OSCE Chairmanship on 1 January 2003.